Construction for wrist-watch chains and the like



May a, 1924; 1,493,449

\ A. PERSON CONSTRUCTION FOR WRIST WATCH CHAINS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 22. 1923 INVENTOR Ma r/5a;

YATTOIEQNEYY Patented May 6, 1924.

UNITED- sr-A res;

AXEL PERSON, oi? Amrnneono, massacnusnzrrs',

ATTLEBORO, M ss cHUsETrsA PARTNERSHIP.

Assn on .To HVAI v EYcL i 00., or,

CONSTRUCTION roe wmawmn cnkmshnn was Appna'tio'n fired December 22, 1923'. seiiaf no. 68211481 To aZZ whom it may cancer iii" Be lt-knownthatl; AXEL PERSON, a citizen of the United States, andaresident of Attleboro, in the'co'unty of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented" an Improvement in Construction for VVrist \Vatch Chains and the like, of which th following-is a specification. I 'lh1s lnvention relates t'olconstruction for wrist watch chains and the like, andf'with regard" to certain more specific features" to precious metals;

construction for such devices employing Oneof the objects of the invention is to" provide aconstruction of the above nature.

practical and efiicient andcapable of meeting the requirements of use in a highly satisfactory manner. Another object is to provide a construction'of the above nature of a strong and durable characteiz' Another object is to provide a construction adapted, at alltimes, to present a neat and attractive appearance. Another object is to provide such a construction wherein precious metals employed are most economically and advantageously" utilized. Another object of this invention is to provide a wrist chain in which the expansion thereof; necessltated by the attachment of the chain tothe wrist or by its self-adjustment to the wrist, may be achieved without destroying its continuity of design. Other objects willbe in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists'in the features ,of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, all as will be illustratively described herein, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one of various possible embodiments Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section.

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken substantially along the l1ne6-6 of'Figure 5.

sign-sins a ansverseseaibn ta en? at: stantially alongtheline of'Figure 3I Figure 8 is; an end elevation'offthe part shown in section in Figurethefpafrt be mg shown at an early stage or its manufac ture.- 1 t Figure 9, is a View similarto Figure" 8} showing the'same part at a later-stage, and

Figure *10 isa plan view of Figure 9:

the drawing.

Referring-"now to the"drawing"in'detail, in'Figure l there'is'shown,'somewliat dia grammatically, aplan view ofthe end por lar partsthroughout 'the'several .views "of' tion of a-"chain adaptedfor use in connection witha wrist watch or the like. .Theh chain preferably "comprises a plurality of blocksor bars'indicatedgenerally'at 10 and joined together as will be'later described to forma flexible chain. These'blocks or bars arepreferablyfof similar design and shape and when thus'joined together provide a continuity of design for the chain. At the end of thechainis provided an attaching so device indicated generallyat' 11 for connection with the" wristwatch. 7

Considering now' more particularly the construction of the bars 10 of the chain, as best'fshown'in Figure "5,they are'provided '85 with upstanding sidewalls or flanges "12 so that when resting upon'the wrist their'external appearance is substantially that of a solid member. Also they are connected" I closely together, their end surfa-cesf'abutting. This connectio'n is 5 preferably formed by means of "links such as 13, over "Which are bent end' flanges 14 of the bars." The bars of the chain being-connected together in this 7 manner, no gapsv appear therebetween so that the"exterior appearance of the chain is substantially solid and uniform, regularly marked off by the lines appearing between adjacent bars.

The attaching" device indicated at 11 in Figure 1 has" a hooked portion 15 by means of-which" connection is made with the wrist watch. This hooked portion 15 is formed upona -member 16 which is'provided with upstanding side Walls or flanges 17. A" plate member 18 is connected with these sidewalls 17 'inamann'er to'be later described and thus spaced from the part 16 formstherewithjand thesidewalls 17, a hollow chamber 01* 'passagewithin the attaching "device;

Similar reference characters refer tosiini- 65" At the end of the chain formed by the bars 10 is a longer bar 19 which extends into this chamber or hollow portion of the attaching device. This longer bar 19 is, in construction, similar to the bars 10, being connected to the adjoining bar 10 in the same manner in which the bars 10 are connected to each other and at its inner end within the hollow portion of the attaching device is flanged as at 20. The rear end of the plate 18 is provided with a flange 21 and between this flange and the flange 20 is interposed a compression spring 22. The bar 19 is slidable longitudinally within the hollow portion of the attaching device and the spring 22 thus forms a yielding connection therebetween urging the bar 19 inwardly. By pulling the bar 19 outwardly against the action of the spring 22, it is seen that the chain is lengthened or extended longitudinally and that under the urge of the spring 22 the chain tends to contract to its normal length. Thus in the lengthening or shortening of the chain the bar 19 simply moves outwardly or inwardly at the rear end of the attaching device. In this manner since the bar 19 thus telescopes within the attaching device, no gaps appear in the chain when it is extended. Preferably the outer surface of the longer bar 19 is marked off to resemble in appearance a plurality of adjoining bars '10. In Figure 2 the chain is shown in extended position with the spring 22 compressed and it is seen that this marking off of the surface of the bar 19 preserves the continuity of design formed in the chain by lines between adjoining bars 10. Thisis highly advantageous since the chain has substantially the same exterior appearance in extended position as in normal position. The spring 22 is preferably made'oval in cross section to best conform to the rectangular shape of the hollow portion of the attaching device in which it rests.

The forward end of the plate member 18 is provided witha pair of inwardly curved lugs 23 which are best shown in Figures 3 and 5. These lugs 23 pivotally support a member 2-1 which is adapted to swing into and out of position to coact with the hook 15 and serve as a lock therefor. This member 24 is provided with a handle or lever 25 which. when the member 24 is in looking position, is in frictional engagement with the outer surface of the side wall 17 of the attaching device. This frictional-engagement of the lever 25 serves to dependably hold the lock in operative position. As is seen in Figure 5 the lugs 23 supporting the lock 24 serve as a stop to limit the inner movement of the bar 19.

Considering now more particularly the material of which these parts are made, they are preferably made of metal which is filled or plated with another more precious metal,

for example, they may be gold-filled or goldplated. Referring particularly to Figure 6, the member 16 with its side walls 17 described above comprises preferably an inner layer of base metal 16 having the side walls 17 and an outer covering 16 of a precious metal, such as gold. The plate member 18 comprises an inner member 18 of base metal having an outer covering 18 of gold. This plate member 18 rests upon the upper surface of the side walls 17 of base metal of the member 16. The covering 16 of 'gold extends beyond the ends of the flanges or side walls 17, as at 16 and is flanged over the edges of the member 18. The covering of precious metal 18 terminates a short distance from the edges of the member 18 upon which it is formed and the edges of the flanged portion 16 of the covering 16 meets these edges of the covering 18 as at 26. This line of meeting is clearly shown in Fig. 3. In this manner the flanged ends 16 of the precious metal hold the member 18 in place and a complete covering of precious metal is provided. The surface of the member 18 forms the inner surface of the attaching device, that is, the surface which contacts the wrist, and it will be seen that the construction just described prevents any base metal from coming in contact with the skin and further preserves the full thickness of the precious metal covering throughout and makes for most economical utilizatio of the precious metal employed. f

Referring now particularly to Figure 8, the bars 10 with their side walls or flanges 12 preferably comprise an; inner member 10 of base metal having the flanges 12 and an outer covering 10 of precious metal. In forming the bars the base metal portion 10- having flanges or side walls 12 and the flanges 14 is preferably first formed as 7 shown in Figure 8. Thereupon the outer coating 10 of precious metal is applied.

Then a part of the end portions of the flanges 12 is forced downwardly as shown in Figure) leaving a thinner portion 12 of base metal and making the lower portion 12 of the fianges thicker thus forming shoulders 12. Thereupon the thin end portion 12 of base metal, together with the covering of precious metal 1O thereon is flanged or bent over against the shoulder 12.

A cross section of the resulting structure.

is shown in Figure 7 and it is seen that the flanged other portion 10 of precious metal forms the inner surface of the bar, that is the surface which comes in contact with the skin. By forming this portion of the bars as above described the full thickness'of the precious metal to permit exposure of the base metal therebeneath. The inner surfaces of the side walls of the longer bar 19 are formed in a similar manner as shown at 19 in Figure 6. Thus the surfaces of the chain and other parts which contact the wrist are all plated with the precious metal and the base metal which lends the necessary strength to the structure does not come into contact with the skin. The precious metal employed is utilized in a most economical and advantageous manner.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there is herein provided a construction which embodies the features of the invention and attains the objects thereof including-xmany practical and useful advantages. It may here be noted that the terms blocks or bars as employed herein are to be interpreted broadly throughout to include any suitable members adapted to perform the functions described.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above setforth, all without departing fromthe scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. In construction for wrist watch chains and the like, in combination, a plurality of bars, and means connecting said bars to form a flexible chain of substantially continuous outer appearance, the connecting means between two successive bars being adapted to; permit longitudinal extension of said chain and said bars connected thereby having overlapping and relatively slidable portions arranged to conceal the gap occasioned by said extension.

2. In construction for wrist watch chains and the like, in combinatioma plurality of bars arranged end to end, means pivotally connecting certain of said bars at their adjacent ends toform a flexible chain of sub stantiall; unbroken outer appearance, and means slidably connecting two other adjacent bars to permit longitudinal extension of said chain, said two bars having superposed portions arranged to conceal the gap occasioned by theextension of said chain.

3. In construct-ion for wrist watch chains and the like, in combination, a plurality of bars having. exposed upper face portions, means connecting said bars with the upper face portions thereof in substantial alignment to form a flexible inexpansible chain of substantially continuous appearance, and a bar slidablv connected with one of said bars and having an upper face portion of substantially the .same width as that of the upper face portion of said one bar and overlapping the latter, thereby to maintain substantially continuous the appearance of said aligned upper face portions during elongation of the chain'by slidable move-' to permit longitudinal extension of said chain and the bars connected thereby having overlapping ancl;relatively slidable por tions arranged to conceal the gap occasioned by said extension of the chain, and a spring included in said last-mentioned connecting means between said two bars.

5. In construction for wrist watch chains and the like, in combination, a series of successive link members having upper face portions and depending side portions, means pivotally connecting said link members with the upper face portions and the depending side portions thereof in substantial alignment to form a flexible inexpansible chain of substantially continuous appearance on three sides thereof, another link member having an upper face portion and depending side portions, the latterbeingspaced to receive therebetween one of said series of link membersto form a continuation thereof, and connecting means between said last two link members arranged to permit rela tive slidable movement of the one link mem- I ber within the other,

6. In construction for wrist watch chains I and the like, incombination, aseries of successive link members having upper face portions anddepending side portions, means pivotally connecting'said link members with the upper face portions and the depending side portions thereof in substantial alignment to form a flexible chain of substantially continuous appearance on three sides thereof, another link member having an upper face portionand depending side portions, the latterbeing spaced 'toreceive therebetween one of said series of link members to form a continuation thereof, connecting means between said last two link members arranged to permit relative slidable movement of the one linkmember within the other, and a spring included in'said last-mentioned connecting means urging said one link member into the other. 7. In construction for wrist watch. chains and the like, in combination, a series of successive link members each having anupper exposed face and adapted to form a chain, the last link member thereof being extended in the direction of-thelength of the chain and formed into an attachingydevice, means pivotally connecting allof said link members but'said last link member and thereof in substantial alignment to form a flexible chain of substantially continuous outer appearance. and means slidably and yieldably connecting said last link member to its adjacent link member, the upper face of one overlapping the upper face of the other.

8. In construction for wrist watch chains and the like, in combination, series of boxlike link members, means connecting said link members to form a flexible chain of substantially continuous solid outer appearance, two successive box-like link members he dimensioned to be slidablv receired one within the other, and mean Zting the siidable movement thereof in a direction away "from each other, whereby said con uous appearance is maintained as said shdable movement takes place.

9. in construction for wrist watch chains and the like, in combination. a series of boxlike link members, means connecting said link members to iorn'i a flexible chain of substantially continuous s lid outer appearance, two successive box-like link members being dimensioned to be slidably received one within the other, and a spring interposed between said two slidable box-like link members and within the registering interiors thereof, sad two slidable link members pre venting disruption of said continuous appearance during extension of said chain thereby.

10. In construction for wrist watch chains and the like, in combination, a series of boxlike link men'ibers connected together to form a chain of substantially continuous outer solid appearance, the end member oi which is of greater length than the remaining members, a box-like link member dimensioned to receive slidably therein said elongated end link member, and a spring urging said end link member into said last mentioned link member.

11. In construction for wrist watch chains and the like, in combination, a series of boxlike link members of substantially continuous outer solid appearance, the end member of which is of greater length than the re maining members, a box-like link member dimensioned to receive slidably therein said elongated end link member and having a portion thereof extended in the direction of the length of the chain, the extended portion being formed into an attaching device, and a spring urging said end link member into said last mentioned link men her.

12. in construction for wrist watch chains and the like, in combination, means adapt ed to'encircle the wrist, an attaching device shaped at one end thereof in the form of a hook and shaped at the other end thereof to receive slidably therein the end of said encircling means, a spring interposed with the upper faces between said end of said encircling means and said device and urging the former into the latter, a projecting member associated with said device and positioned in the path of movement of said end of said wrist encircling means to limit the slidable movement therebetween, and a lock member sup ported from said projecting member and movable into operative relation to said hook.

13. The combination with wrist-encircling means, of an attaching device comprising a sheet metal member having a pair of depending side walls between which is slidably received theend portion of said wristcncircling means, and a plate-like member attached to said walls and having an inwardly directed projecting member for limiting the slidable movement of said end portion of said wrist-encircling means relative to said attaching device.

14. The combination with wrist-encircling means provided with a projecting member at an end portion thereof, of an attaching device formed of sheet metal and provided with a pair of plat-alike members held in spaced relation and between which said end portion of said wrist-encircling means with said projecting mem-,

berthereon is slidably received, one of said plate-like members having two longitudinally spaced and inwardly directed lugs between which said projecting member on the end portion of said wrist-encircling" means is slidably movable and thus with said end portion is limited in its movement.

15. The combination with wrist-encircling means provided with a projecting member at an end portion thereof, of an attaching. levice formed of sheet metal and provided with a pair of plate-like members held in spaced relation and between which said end portion of said wrist-encircling means with said projecting member thereon is slidably received, one of said plate-like members having two longitudinally spaced and inwardly directed lugs between which said projecting member on the end portion or" said wrist-encircling means is slidably movable and thus with said end portion is limited in its move" ment, and a spring interposed between one.

of said lugs and said projecting member.

16. The combination with wrist-encircling means provided with a projecting member at an end portion thereof, of an attaching device formed of sheet metal and having a pair of depending side walls between which said end portion of said wristencircling means is slidably received, and a plate-like member secured to said side walls and having two longitudinally spaced and inwardly directed lugs thereon between which said projecting member on the end portion of said wrisvencir'cling means is slidably movable and thus with saidend portion is limited in its movement.

, 17. The combination with WI1St BI1C1ECl1I1g means, of an attachlng device comprismg a sheet metal member having a pair of depending side walls, each of which is stepped to form a supporting ledge, and between which is slidably received the end portion of said wrist-encircling means, and a plate like member resting upon the supporting to form a supporting ledge and an up-.

standing flange and between which side walls is slidably received the end portion of said wrist-encircling means, a plate-like member resting upon the supporting ledges and having said flanges bent thereover to' hold it in place, and an inwardly. directed projecting member supported from said plate-like member for limiting the slidable movement of the end portion of said wristencircling means relative to said attaching device.

19. The combination with wrist-encircling means, of an attaching device shaped at one end thereof in the form of a hook and having a pair of depending side walls be tween which is slidably received the end portion of said wrist-encircling means, a plate-like member mounted upon said side walls for substantially enclosing the end portion of said wrist-encircling means within said attaching device, a lock-member adapted to be moved into operative relation to said hook, and means mounting said lock member on said plate-like member.

20. In construction for wrist watch chains and the like,-in combination, a plurality of bars, means connecting said bars to form an inexpansible chain,said bars forming a continuity of design, an attaching device at the end of said chain, and means forming a connection between said chain and said attaching device adapted to permit longitudinal extension, said last mentioned means having overlapping and relativelyslidable parts of substantially the same width as that of said bars, adapted thereby to preserve said continuity of design of said chain up to said attaching device.

21. In construction for wrist watch chains and the like, in combination, a pair of members each having anupper face portion and depending side wall portions'and adaptedto form part of a chain, one of said members telescoping within the other and mov able relative thereto to a I 7 permit longitudinal extension of sa d chaln.

22. In construction 'forwrist watch chains 7 T andthe like, in combination, a chaincomprising a plurality of connected bars, an

attaching device adjacent the end of said 1 chain'having a hollow part, a bar of greater length than said first bars forming part of said chain and extending withinsaidhollow part and, movable longitudinally therein, and a spring urging said last bar into said hollow part.

. 23. In construction for wrist watch chains and the like, in combination, a chain comprising a plurality of connected similar ing its'surface marked to resemble a plurality of said first bars, said bar extending into said hollow part of said attaching device and being movable therein, and a spring within said hollow urging said bar thereinto.

24. In construction for wrist watch chains and the like, in combination, means adapted to encircle the wrist, an attaching device part yieldingly 80 bars, an attaching device'adjacent the end of said chain having a hollow part, a bar of greater lengththan said first bars, forming the end portion of. said chain and havconnected thereto comprising a hooked member, and a lock member movable into operative relation to said hook and shaped to form therewith a closed loop. and locked in position by friction with the surface of said attaching device. I

25. In construction for wrist watch chains and the like,:in combination, means adapted member, a member pivoted upon said attaching device adapted to swing into look ing relation with said hook, and means connected to said member adapted to frictionally engage a portion of said attaching device to secure said member in looking position.

26. In construction forwrist watch chains and the like, in combination, means adapted ins ber spaced from said first member and, secured thereto forming a recess therebetween, and means connected to said wrist encircling means, extending lengthwise into said recess and yieldingly connected therein to said attaching device.

27. In'construction for wrist watch chains and the like, in combination, means adapted to encircle the wrist, an attaching device adjacent the end'thereof comprising a memberv having a hooked portion, a second member spaced from said'first member and secured thereto forming a recess therebetween, means connected to said wrlst encircling w means, extending into said recess and yielddevice, and a member mounted upon said second member adapted to move into lock- 'ing position with respect to said hook and secured in position by friction.

28. The combination with wrist-encircling means having two longitudinally spaced projecting members at the end portion thereof, of an attaching device formed of sheet metal and provided with a pair of plate-like members held in spaced relation and between which the end portion of said encircling means with at least one of said projecting members is slidably received, one of said plate-like members having an inwardly directed projecting member with which either of said two longitudinally spaced projecting members may co-act to limit the slidable movement of said end portion of the wrist-encircling means relative to said attaching device.

29. The combination with -wristencircling means, of an attaching device formed of sheet metal and having a pair of depending side walls between which is slidably repceiv -ed the end portion of said wristencircling means to permit an elongation thereof, and said device being formed at its end into ahook, a plate-like member supported by said side walls to substantially enclose the end portion of said wristencircling means between said side walls, and locking means forming substantially an extension of said plate-like member in a direction toward said book but movable relative thereto to form with the hook a closedloop. I a

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this tenth day of December A. D. 1923.

AXEL PERSON. 

